By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced the arrival of another batch of 83 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, amid renewed concerns over Afrophobic attacks, xenophobia and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the Nigerians will depart O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 3:35pm local time aboard South African Airways and are expected to land in Lagos at about 8:45pm the same day.

The ministry said the latest evacuation was made possible through the intervention and sponsorship of air tickets by public-spirited private individuals.

It expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the sponsors, describing their intervention as a significant demonstration of patriotism and solidarity with Nigerians facing difficulties abroad.

The latest development comes after the conclusion of the government’s voluntary repatriation programme, through which nearly 1,490 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa amid concerns over attacks, discrimination and hostility towards foreigners.

The ministry said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, remained committed to protecting the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians both at home and abroad.

It said the government’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda considers Nigerians in the diaspora “not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development,” stressing that their protection and well-being remained a priority.

The ministry also commended the private individuals and philanthropists who supported the latest evacuation, describing their intervention as an example of the “whole-of-society approach” being promoted by the government.

“The Ministry commends their patriotism and selflessness, which have significantly alleviated the plight of our compatriots in South Africa,” the statement said.

The Federal Government called on the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and other well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad to emulate the initiative and support efforts to respond to consular emergencies.

The ministry further disclosed that the government would continue to strengthen diplomatic engagement with South Africa to address the root causes of Afrophobia and prevent attacks and discrimination against Nigerians.

It said Nigeria would deepen strategic partnerships with host countries, including South Africa, to ensure that acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians are prevented, condemned and, where they occur, met with appropriate accountability for perpetrators.

The ministry urged broader collaboration between government, the private sector and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to protect its citizens abroad and respond swiftly to emergencies affecting them.

From Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna

More than 200 lecturers, including professors and other experienced academic staff, have left Kaduna State University (KASU) over poor conditions of service and the failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) Agreement, the university’s ASUU chapter has said.

The development has heightened tensions at the institution, with the union issuing a two-week ultimatum to the Kaduna State Government and university authorities to commence the full implementation and domestication of the agreement or face a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.

Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference at the union’s secretariat in Kaduna.

Abdullahi said the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which provides improved conditions of service for academic staff in Nigerian universities, took effect in January 2026, but had yet to be implemented at KASU.

He said the union had written several letters to the university management, Governing Council and the Visitor to the institution, Governor Uba Sani, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement in line with the law establishing the university.

According to him, the union had also engaged stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State in an effort to resolve the dispute and preserve industrial harmony.

Abdullahi expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU had made no move to commence implementation, while several federal and state universities had either implemented the agreement or announced timelines for its implementation and payment of accrued arrears.

He said the delay had left KASU academic staff among the least-paid university workers in the country, a situation he said was a departure from the institution’s former reputation for prioritising staff welfare.

The ASUU chairman warned that continued inaction would result in the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.

He also linked the departure of more than 200 academic staff to poor remuneration and deteriorating welfare conditions. According to him, most of those who left had secured appointments in newer universities within and outside Kaduna State.

Abdullahi warned that the continued loss of experienced academics could have serious consequences for teaching, research and academic development, adding that replacing professors and other highly skilled lecturers could take years and require substantial resources.

The union’s Congress, which met on August 12, resolved to declare an industrial dispute and embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike if its demands were not addressed. The decision, Abdullahi said, was in line with a resolution of ASUU’s National Executive Council reached at its meeting at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9.

He said the two-week ultimatum was issued in accordance with established procedures for industrial disputes, giving the authorities an opportunity to take concrete steps towards implementing and domesticating the agreement before industrial action begins.

Beyond the federal agreement, ASUU-KASU also raised a number of unresolved local issues, including university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards, and pension remittances.

The union urged the university management, Kaduna State Government and other relevant authorities to treat the issues with urgency and provide satisfactory responses to avert industrial disharmony.

Abdullahi also appealed to parents, stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the dispute, stressing that timely action could prevent a strike and help preserve peace and stability at the university.

He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to pursuing its demands through lawful means, while expressing hope that the authorities would act before the expiration of the ultimatum.

By Ayanyinka Ayanlowo

Nigerian Economic Summit to Chart the Next Phase of Nigeria’s Economic Transformation
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has announced the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #32), scheduled to hold on 26–27 October 2026 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, under the theme: “Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.

At a critical moment in the nation’s economic journey, the Summit will convene policymakers, business leaders, development partners, investors, civil society organisations, and young Nigerians in charting a practical pathway from economic stabilisation to investment-led growth, productive enterprise, quality jobs, and broad-based prosperity.

Over the past three years, Nigeria has implemented significant macroeconomic reforms aimed at restoring fiscal sustainability and strengthening economic fundamentals. Whilst these reforms have laid an important foundation for long-term growth, the challenge now is ensuring that economic progress translates into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

This year’s summit theme reflects national priority. The Summit will focus on how Nigeria can move beyond growth measured solely by economic indicators and deliver growth that creates jobs, improves productivity, raises incomes, reduces poverty, and expands opportunities across all regions of the country.
From Stabilisation to Shared Prosperity
Nigeria possesses immense economic potential. With a population exceeding 220 million people, abundant natural resources, a growing entrepreneurial class, and a youthful workforce, the country has the ingredients required to become one of the world’s leading emerging economies.
Yet millions of Nigerians continue to face unemployment, low productivity, limited economic opportunities, and vulnerability to shocks. Economic growth remains essential, however growth alone is no longer sufficient. The true measure of progress lies in whether economic expansion creates meaningful employment, strengthens businesses, improves household welfare, and delivers prosperity that is widely shared.
NES#32 will therefore focus on strengthening the link between macroeconomic reforms and outcomes that matter most to Nigerians: jobs, productivity, income growth, and improved living standards.
Five Strategic Dialogue Tracks
To advance the overarching theme, NES #32 will adopt a performance-driven dialogue architecture built around five interconnected sub-themes designed to address the key dimensions of inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
Work Nigeria will explore strategies for building a job-rich economy capable of absorbing Nigeria’s rapidly growing workforce through labour-intensive sectors, MSME development, workforce readiness, and stronger labour market systems.
Produce Nigeria will focus on strengthening productivity through industrialisation, innovation, investment promotion, digital transformation, and the development of competitive value chains across agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
Invest Nigeria will seek to examine how targeted investments in people and systems can reduce poverty, expand access to essential services and economic opportunities, strengthen social protection architecture, and build the resilience of vulnerable populations to economic and environmental shocks.
Scale Nigeria will explore how growth can be expanded across states, sectors, and communities by strengthening subnational competitiveness, regional value chains, infrastructure, and local investment coordination.
Secure Nigeria will address strategies for protecting critical economic assets, restoring confidence in production zones, improving access to farmlands, safeguarding infrastructure, and creating a secure environment for investment and enterprise growth.
Anchoring Dialogue Around Three Pillars
To ensure focused and outcome-driven deliberations, discussions at NES #32 will be anchored around three interdependent pillars: Productivity, Human Capital, and Resilience. These pillars will guide conversations on how Nigeria can improve competitiveness and efficiency, equip citizens with the skills needed for a modern economy, and strengthen social and economic systems capable of withstanding domestic and global shocks.
Advancing a National Growth Agenda
This year the 32nd edition of the summit will seek to generate actionable policy recommendations and build consensus around a new phase of economic transformation focused on driving jobs-rich growth through agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, and the digital economy; raising productivity and competitiveness through innovation, improved infrastructure, and regulatory efficiency; strengthening the investment climate to attract domestic and foreign investment; advancing human capital development to align workforce skills with labour market demand; and expanding economic opportunities while reducing poverty across regions and communities.
The Summit is expected to produce concrete policy directions that strengthen the connection between economic reforms, enterprise growth, employment generation, and household welfare outcomes.
A Call for Collective Action
The scale of Nigeria’s economic opportunity requires collaboration across sectors and institutions. Government, the private sector, development partners, academia, labour organisations, civil society, and young people all have critical roles to play in shaping a future where growth delivers measurable benefits for every Nigerian.
NES #32 provides a unique platform for these stakeholders to engage in evidence-based dialogue, forge strategic partnerships, and develop solutions capable of accelerating inclusive economic transformation.
As Nigeria enters the next phase of its development journey, the Summit will serve as a national platform for answering one fundamental question: How can economic growth work better for Nigerians?
The answer will shape the country’s path toward a future defined by jobs, productivity, resilience, and shared prosperity.
About the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is Nigeria’s foremost private sector-led policy advocacy and think tank organisation. For over three decades, the NESG has provided a credible platform for public-private dialogue, shaping policies and strategies that drive Nigeria’s economic progress. The annual Nigerian Economic Summit remains the premier gathering of business leaders, policymakers, and development stakeholders committed to Nigeria’s transformation.

• Ayanlowo is Head, Strategic Communication and Advocacy (NESG)